Integrated Ecosystems Management: National Program Support for Environment

Collecting individual efforts together to overcome challenges and Natural Resources Management Project
and achieve joint benefits in ENR management (NPS-ENRMP)

An IEM Story:

Incorporating Integrated Ecosystem Management with Local

Development Plans: The Case of General Nakar and Infanta
Municipalities in Quezon Province

Introduction General Nakar and 8,005 hectares and 11,665

hectares, respectively for Infanta. In previous
The traditional municipal development planning years, their CLUPs covered only about 6% of
in the Philippines through the Comprehensive the total land area of General Nakar and 40.7%
Land Use Plan (CLUP) has been narrowly in the case of Infanta. The rest of the forestlands
focused on settled communities, the urban and watershed are not covered in the CLUP, or
and agricultural areas, and the alienable and if ever they have prepared plans for areas such
disposable (A and D)lands. Forestlands and as those covered by ancestral domain claims
watershed areas are often not included, or, if or protected areas, they stand separate and
at all, just mentioned in passing in the CLUP. not linked to the traditional CLUP. This reflects
Looking at the context of the General Nakar and limited understanding of the role of the highly
Infanta in Quezon Province that largely compose diverse forests and watersheds as provider of
the Kanan-Agos River Watershed (KARW), the various ecosystems goods and services that
A and D Land and the forestlands are 10,426 are being enjoyed by both the upland and
hectares and 150,576 hectares, respectively for downstream communities.
An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon December 2013

Building on previous initiatives like those of the largest land area in the watershed, while the
the Haribon Foundation and the University of Real municipality only covers a small portion.
the Philippines at Los Baños, the World Bank/
Global Environment Facility-financed National
Program Support for Environment and Natural General Nakar is the largest municipality of
Resources Management Project (NPS ENRMP) Quezon province with an area of 145,607.19
facilitated concerted actions to provide a hectares or 16.75% of the total land area of the
context in linking the uplands, lowlands, province. With respect to the level of hierarchy
and coastal areas following the ridge to reef of centers for the province, the municipality
landscapes of watersheds. The integrated falls at the medium level. This means that
ecosystems management (IEM) approach was General Nakar has great potential for rural
adopted in Kanan-Agos Watershed to align development, tourism, aquaculture/mariculture
land and resources uses within a highly diverse and agroforestry.
landscape. This article narrates the story of this
intervention and its impacts to the community On the other hand, Infanta, with a total area
and the environment. of 34,276 hectares, has high development
potential as distribution center, tourism,
light industry, aquaculture/mariculture, and
agroforestry.
Importance of Kanan-Agos
Watershed
Specifically, the following are identified
There are three municipalities in the Agos River opportunities for improved management and
Watershed. General Nakar and Infanta cover development of KARW:

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon NPS-ENRMP

Tapping the potentials of agriculture, additional, 1,900 million liters of water per day
forestry, and fishery. Agriculture, fishing, would be supplied through the Metro Manila
forest-dependent enterprises, and services Water and Sewerage System (MWSS) to Metro
are the major sources of income of many Manila and part of Cavite if the planned Laiban
households. Infanta supplies high quality Dam in General Nakar pushes through. Several
coconut products and products from nipa sap communal irrigation systems and settlement
such as ‘lambanog” and vinegar. The forests in areas also depend on the groundwater and
the watershed supply most of the non-timber surface water that comes from the Agos River.
forest product raw materials for handicraft The continued supply of this water largely
making and furniture such as rattan and tiger depends on a well-managed and conserved
grass. Fishing is a major source of livelihood KARW.
in the Infanta and General Nakar Pacific Coast
area with an established fish port in Dahican, Increasing interest on ecotourism investment.
Infanta. This is especially so with the nearness of KARW
to Metro Manila with faster access through
Major contributor of water supply for Metro the new Infanta-Marikina Road. A boom in
Manila. At present, the Umiray River of General infrastructure development and business
Nakar supplies water to the Angat Dam in opportunities along this route is expected.
Bulacan through a 28-kilometer underground Natural waterfalls, mild and wide Agos River
tunnel that traverses the Sierra Madre Mountain water flow, caves, serene tropical rainforest,
Range. Angat Dam, along with Ipo Dam, supply beach resorts, and many scenic spots await
97% of the water needs of Metro Manila. An tourists from Manila and nearby provinces.

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon December 2013

Tour activities may include boating, trekking, Specifically, below are problems and threats
beach swimming, and spelunking. This can attendant to the KARW:
spur other business ventures such as hotels,
restaurants, gasoline stations, and souvenir
shops. The municipalities of Infanta, General High poverty incidence. Limited economic
Nakar, and Real Quezon are also considered to opportunity and employment has resulted in
be entry points to the Polillio Islands, which are high poverty incidence among families living
known to have high biodiversity as well as nice within the KARW. Thus, many of them are in
beaches and scenic spots. the subsistence level of living, making do with
available resources.
Potential big market for key commodities.
Again, this relates to Metro Manila being a huge Encroachments and kaingin-making. In their
population center and, as such, a big market poverty, the local families turn to the forest
too. Strategic commodities to focus on include and the uplands as source of their living. This
fuelwood, soft broom and high value crops. is observable among the upland and coastal
There is particularly high demand for fuelwood barangays of General Nakar facing the Pacific
and charcoal among bakeries, food chains, Ocean. Living in houses near the coast, these
and lower income households. With the entry communities have expanded their kaingin
of investors and proper planning by the local cultivations to the upper slopes, while even
governments of General Nakar and Infanta, fish catch along the shore has also dwindled.
the demand for such commodities can be met Continuous cultivation of the barren slopes
adequately, spurring livelihood developments resulted in soil nutrient loss leading to lower
in the rural areas. crop production.

Poaching of forest products. With the

Problems and Threats: Critical increasing local demand for forest products,
poaching or illegal extractions of forest
Watershed products has prevailed. The forest products
The Kanan-Agos River basin has rich and include timber, non-timber products, and
productive natural resources anchored on fuelwood. For fuelwood alone, Metro Manila
its diverse forests, land, coastal, and fishery has a requirement of __ million cu meters per
resources. As mentioned above, the narrow month. An established network and route of
focus of the traditional CLUP which excluded smuggled forest products from the forest to the
the forests and the watersheds has contributed market has made this illegal activity flourish.
to the neglect of these areas. Through the
years, these resources were indiscriminately
abused by legal and illegal loggers, timber Land claims and tenure conflicts. Parties in
poachers, miners, wildlife poachers, land conflict here include big absentee land owners
speculators, and kaingineros. Thus, the diverse who hold legal papers to the land, actual
natural forests and mangroves in the river basin occupants with no legal papers, and the Agta-
face alarming degradation, deterioration, and Remontado tribe that was awarded a Certificate
biodiversity loss. This situation has threatened of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) covering
and weakened the ecosystem resiliency, almost the whole land area of General Nakar
which endangers the continuing supply of
key environmental services to on- and off-site municipality. This situation is causing not only
communities and exacerbates the impacts estranged relationship between and among the
of landslides and floods to downstream parties but also uncertainties in the protection
communities. Thus, the watershed is less able and conservation of the rolling lands hilly lands.
to provide protection against the onslaught of
extreme weather occurrences due to climate
change. Increasing access to the Protected Areas
(PAs). The declared PAs under Presidential
Proclamation (PP) 1636 in Infanta and under
PP 196 in Gen. Nakar are now illegally occupied

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by an increasing number of families. As PAs, harmoniously integrate their CLUP, Forest Land
these areas were set aside for conservation of Use Plan (FLUP), Protected Area Management
biodiversity and protection of water sources Plan and the Ancestral Domain Sustainable
for the communities. This squatting problem Development and Protection Plan (ADSDPP).
combines with the inadequate field staff of the The IEM participatory and governance-oriented
DENR and the weak tenure right system in the processes helped facilitate and harmonize
PP 1636 area. The increasing access is due to efforts of the local governments, tenure and
upland migration by families coming from the domain holders, NGOs, and communities for
municipalities of General Nakar and Infanta, as aligning their land and resource uses consistent
well as from outside the two municipalities. with present and future environmental needs
and ecological stability of the Kanan-Agos River
Watershed. The details for the formation and
Convergence for the Conservation operation of such convergence are discussed
below.
and Protection of KARW
The need to protect and conserve the KARW Identification of and coming together of
to sustain its ecosystem services pushed RAAs. The identified site-based responsible,
the convergence of concerned sectors for accountable, and authority-vested (RAAs)
collective action. These stakeholders include stakeholders for the Kanan-Agos River
the Department of Environment and Natural Watershed are the municipal local government
Resources (DENR), the municipal governments units (LGUs) of General Nakar and Infanta
of General Nakar and Infanta, and the National through their LGU-DENR Steering Committees,
Council for Indigenous People (NCIP). Such the community and provincial offices of
convergence led to the formulation and DENR, the Protected Area Management Board
implementation of comprehensive ecosystem- of the protected area (PP 1636), the Agta-
wide and LGU-based development plans that Remontado Tribe Council of Elders, and the

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon December 2013

holders community-based forest management LGU-DENR Steering Committees of General

agreements and fishpond lease agreements Nakar and Infanta are providing oversight
in Infanta. The first to come together are the supervision in the implementation of their
local DENR with municipal local governments respective FLUPs and related concerns.
of General Nakar and Infanta through their
initiatives for their respective municipal Forest KARW IEM Framework Formulation. The IEM
Land Use Plans (FLUPs) with financial and framework laid down the guiding principles for
technical facilitation from nongovernment the holistic management of land, water, and
organizations and funding institutions like the living resources in the KARW. It sought to unify
Haribon Foundation Project Governance and individual and collective actions in managing
Local Development of Endangered Forests the watershed for conservation, socio-cultural
(GOLDEN FORESTS) financed by the European development, and economic development.
Union and the NPS ENRMP Project financed by The vision under the IEM framework is stated
the World Bank GEF. as “The Kanan-Agos River Basin, a watershed
where God-fearing, healthy, empowered,
Formation/Strengthening of Governance prosperous, climate change-adaptive, and
Bodies. The individual efforts of the two local gender-responsive citizenry live in harmony
governments were later linked and tied up with verdant forests, clean rivers, and rich
together through the IEM initiative under the biodiversity.”
NPS ENRMP. The formulation of the KARW
IEM Framework was initiated through legwork Based on this IEM blueprint, the local
action of an intersectoral Technical Working governments of General Nakar and Infanta
Group and the KARW Management Council. The crafted their Environment and Natural
KARW Management Council was later merged Resources (ENR) Management Plan that
with the now Expanded PP1636 Protected covers their geographical share of the KARW,
Area Management Board (EPAMB). Dumagat- addressing the management and development
Remontado tribal elders were intermittently of the environment and natural resources
involved in the processes of FLUP formulation in their respective municipalities including
for General Nakar. At the municipality level, the forestland, agricultural land,
urban areas, and coastal
areas. Thus, their ENR
plans became part of their
municipal development
plans for which they set
aside budget in their annual
investment plans.

Identification of Non-
Negotiables. There was
also joint effort in the
identification of non-
negotiables (NNs) or non-
compromise areas in the
watershed. These NNs are
designated land and resource
allocations whose intended
uses and purposes cannot be
compromised or modified
to ensure protection and
sustainability for the whole
watershed-ecosystem. They

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon NPS-ENRMP

also include types of investments that shall be regeneration, and agroforestry. This is through
disallowed in a watershed-ecosystem or highly the help of contracted peoples organizations and
diverse area. The identified non-negotiables in barangay LGUs by administrative arrangement
KARW are the following: with the DENR. These initiatives are being
funded by the NPS ENRMP Project.
• Conservation areas under PP1636 in Infanta
• Overlap areas of CADT and PP1636 in
General Nakar Conservation-Oriented Livelihoods. To lessen
• Mangrove forests and forestlands in Infanta pressure on the threatened forest resources,
• Protection forests in CADT area in General some conservation-oriented or environment
Nakar friendly livelihoods are being promoted in
• Hazard areas subject to land slides and the communities. Rice hull-fueled lambanog
flooding making is intended to lessen pressure on the
gathering and depletion of mangroves as the
The identified actions for these NNs include traditional fuel for local wine making, while
strengthening the oversight bodies specifically promoting the use of a waste material (rice
the EPAMB and LGU-DENR Steering hull) that is otherwise thrown away and burned.
Committees, recognition and inclusion of Livelihoods on agroforestry and fuelwood lots
identified conservation areas and protection are intended solution to kaingin making that
forests in CLUP, ADSDPP and LGU zoning would otherwise denude forests and turn them
regime as supported by LGU zoning ordinance, into open cultivation. Part of the agroforestry
and observing these in the course of FLUP scheme promoted is interplanting of coconut
implementation. Recommended also is the with coffee. Fuelwood plantation establishment,
inclusion of NCIP and CADT representatives in on the other hand, lessens pressure on the
the EPAMB and co- management for the open cutting of natural forest as fuelwood source.
access mangroves in Infanta. Tiger grass plantations have also been initiated
to create continuing supply of raw materials for
broom making while also providing continuous
Guided IEM- and FLUP-based updating of soil cover as protection against erosion. Separate
Comprehensive Land Use Plans. This initiative support is also set aside for livelihoods initiated
involves the update, review, approval, and initial by indigenous peoples (IPs) for implementation
implementation of IEM and FLUP-consistent inside the CADT area.
CLUPs for Infanta and General Nakar. This
requires integration of the non-negotiables
as determined by the KARW IEM Framework Managing Conflict Between Local IPs
and the General Nakar and Infanta FLUPs in and General Nakar LGU. One particular
the updating of their respective CLUPs. This concern in the pursuit of convergence for the
leads to the formulation of ordinances that conservation and improved management of
will improve local governance framework for the KARW is the conflict between the General
conservation activities, minimizing risks and Nakar LGU and the local tribe of the Dumagat-
damages in hazard zone areas and providing Remontado. Practically the whole land area of
incentives for environment-friendly land and the municipality of General Nakar, including
resource use and management. There will also the coastal areas, had been declared as part
be ordinances to effectively implement the IEM of the Agta- Remontado CADT. The local
and FLUP-consistent zones to strongly support government of General Nakar questioned
the KARW IEM framework. the lack of consultation with local officials
during the process of area identification
and delineation for their CADT under the
Establishment of Nurseries and Rehabilitation facilitation of the NCIP. The IPs, on the other
of Denuded Forests. Part also of the action hand, defend their claim and ownership of the
on non-negotiables, specially in the erosion- area from the very beginning. The NPS ENRM
prone and degraded areas, is the establishment Project is trying to intervene and manage
of nurseries and rehabilitation of barren the conflict through a technical assistance
areas through reforestation, assisted natural

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon December 2013

called “Engaging Indigenous Peoples for the DENR is also demonstrated in deployment and
Integrated Ecosystem Management Planning in operation of the Barangay Law Enforcement
GEF-Assisted Watersheds.” At this stage, some Teams (BLET). With strategically located
headway had been attained in their leveling off outposts in the road network of the barangays,
towards joint and collaborative management these teams have been instrumental in the
and development of the area and reconciliatory apprehension of forest violators and in the
efforts are continuing along this line. filing of appropriate cases in coordination
with the local DENR. Within the period of
January 2010 to June 2013, the coordinated
Part of the strategy in the conflict management operation of DENR and BLET check points
was a workshop among the NCIP, LGUs, and has led to apprehension of 52,211 board feet
DENR, to facilitate and map out strategies on how of sawn lumber, confiscation of seven chain
ancestral domain holders in IEM sites (through saws, and impounding of four vehicles used
their ADSDPP and FLUPs/CLUPs) can partner for illegal logging. The continued operation of
with local government units (LGUs) in conserving these enforcement teams is helping reduce the
biodiversity, protecting forests, regulating incidence of illegal logging and timber poaching
activities in highly hazardous areas, and enforcing in KARW.
ENR policies and regulations. A memorandum
of agreement between NCIP and LGU/General
Nakar was also drafted to facilitate how they can Addressing Climate-Related Risks through
work together to harmonize the FLUP/CLUP and Automatic Weather Station. With financial
the ADSDPP preparation for KARW. support from the NPS ENRMP, the partner
LGUs, the DENR, and the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Coordinated Forestry Law Enforcement. Services Administration (PAGASA) have joined
Strong partnership between the LGU and the

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon NPS-ENRMP

efforts for the establishment and maintenance and lasting working relationship between
of an automatic weather station (AWS) in the two institutions that is crucial for future
KARW. Equipped with automatic instruments collaborations.
to measure stream level, rainfall depth, wind
velocity, and relative humidity, among others,
the AWS can serve as a warning system for Synergistic Impact of DENR-LGU Partnership
any impending flash flood, while in the long in Supporting Marginalized Communities.
term, it can provide agro-meteorogical basis for This is exemplified by Barangay Batangan LGU
cropping patterns and farming activities within in General Nakar. Through a small reforestation
the watershed. contract with the DENR, the community
succeeded in regenerating degraded natural
forest in their area. Using the leftover amount
and proceeds from extra seedlings sold, they
Results of Collaboration also helped improve social, educational, and
health services in the barangay.
The partnership and collaboration of the LGUs
and DENR for the Kanan-Agos River Watershed
has resulted in the following: Contribution to Forest Rehabilitation.
Partnership among LGU, DENR, and the local
communities has led to the rehabilitation of
Stronger LGU-DENR Partnership. The pursuit degraded areas in terms of 170 hectares of
and implementation of IEM in KARW served as assisted natural regeneration and 10 hectares
venue for strengthening partnership between of agroforestry areas. These areas will serve as
DENR, the municipal and barangay LGUs, and models for parallel projects to be pursued by
the community in environment and natural the LGUs and POs in the immediate future.
resources management. The NPS ENRM Project
gave opportunity for the LGU and the DENR to
work together in addressing environmental and LGU Buy-ins. Having been fully convinced
socioeconomic needs of the community while of the importance and applicability of IEM to
promoting the rehabilitation of degraded areas their territory and seeing it as contributory
and improving of ecosystem, services from to their devolved ENR functions, the LGUs
the KARW. The result is closer, meaningful, of General Nakar and Infanta have bought
into the pursuance of IEM in their territorial

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An IEM Story: The Story of General Nakar and Infanta, Quezon December 2013

jurisdictions. They have allocated counterpart remain in pursuing and implementing the IEM-
funds for the implementation of their municipal based comprehensive local development plans
FLUP, for conservation-oriented livelihoods, for General Nakar and Infanta.
solid waste management, and forestry law
enforcement. Evidence of their buy-ins can In summary, the implementation of IEM in
also be seen in their having passed ordinances KARW has led to the following:
aligned and supportive of the fundamental
mechanics of IEM.
Paving the way for increased strategic
investments. The enhanced IEM Framework
Improved Resiliencies of Watershed- for KARW provides a better context for
Ecosystem and the Communities. The investment and regulation that are consistent
project has replicable models for improved with the IEM-based CLUPs and comprehensive
resiliency of the watershed and communities to development plans for the two municipalities.
adverse climate change impacts. In addition to This is especially so as the plans of the
improving site and biodiversity condition, the Agta-Remontado IP and those of the other
rehabilitated mountainsides are better able to tenure holders are also aligned with the IEM
withstand erosion caused by heavy storms. On framework. This paves the way for increased
the other hand, with supplemental food and strategic investments of the LGUs and the
income generated, the established livelihoods DENR to improve the economic environment
for the communities will make them better able for individual and private investments.
to withstand and adjust to the effects of adverse
climatic conditions.
Putting in place an RAA-based forest
protection and enforcement system. The IEM
Prospects for the Future framework plan identifies land management
areas in the KARW and pinpoints the
While much headway has been achieved in stakeholders who will be responsible for the
the partnership among the LGUs, the DENR, protection, rehabilitation, and development
and the local communities for the improved of said areas and the resources therein. The
management of KARW, much challenge also stakeholders include the concerned LGU,

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tenured land and resource unit managers, Improving collaborative efforts between
and national government agencies. Under this NRM partners in KARW. The IEM framework
setting, the local barangay is tapped as on the spells a mechanism that allows individual
ground partner for improved management to form part of concerted action for the
of the local natural resources. An example of improved management and development of
this is the deployment of the Barangay Law the watershed. It will enhance coordination
Enforcement Team (BLET). towards synergy. It is expected that the synergy
created by IEM will inspire all the stakeholders,
Creating more economic and livelihood including the Dumagat-Remontado Tribe, to
opportunities. This is because the local natural vigorously participate in the development
resources are clearly identified, including process. The anticipated long-term result is a
their potentials for sustainable development better environment for concerted efforts for the
and investment to benefit the present and the conservation and development of the Kanan-
coming generations. The implementation of Agos River Watershed.
the identified strategies with adequate support
will help make this happen.

For more information, please contact:

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Office
DENR Compound, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City

Telefax: +632 926-2689; 928-0028; 926-2693